Administrative and Regulatory Law Careers

Careers in Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice is a book offered by the American Bar Association’s Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice. This easy-to-read, six-part resource offers a bare-bones overview of the work administrative law lawyers do, their typical career path, and how a student can become a strong candidate for an administrative law position. A copy of this book is available in the Career Development Office.

Parts one and two offer a general overview of the field of administrative law, and the author takes care to point out some differences from the area of litigation. After this brief overview, the book discusses some jobs commonly held by administrative law lawyers and compares the practice at the federal, state, and local levels.

Part three provides information about academic choices that students can make while still in school that may benefit them later when seeking a career in administrative law.

Part four opens with a discussion about the potential benefits (e.g., stability and predictability in scheduling) and drawbacks (e.g., political issues) of working in administrative and regulatory law. This part then describes practical skill sets and innate personal qualities that are conducive to success in the field as well as attributes that tend to present problems for attorneys trying to integrate themselves and flourish in administrative law. Finally, this section concludes with descriptions of the typical career path of an attorney in the field and projected career opportunity growth in the near future.

Part five offers advice specifically geared toward finding a job. It begins by suggesting possible networking methods and explaining their potential benefits. This advice is followed by a list of books to consult for further education about the field of administrative law. Finally, this section ends by explaining how to utilize a career services office most effectively, suggesting career and academic pursuits that can strengthen a student’s credentials, and offering a list of resources for finding job openings in administrative law.

The final part of this book consists of a series of essays written by administrative law attorneys detailing their experiences and offering advice for those considering entering the practice area. There are more than 15 essays included in this part, and the attorneys represent a wide range of practices within administrative law, including elections, immigration, food and drug regulation, and many more.

As a whole, the book is written in a conversational style, and the sections are broken up into very short chapters that make for quick reading. For those seeking only the most general overview of administrative law and a set of job-searching resources, this book is a good choice.